Three West Michiganders Who Make a Difference Every Day

You don’t always remember what they say, but you remember how they make you feel. The people we encounter throughout our day have the ability to improve our lives one interaction at a time.

In their various roles in service industry jobs Jen, Dave and Chris interact with many people every day. They’re on their feet all day, working long hours, yet they serve their patients or customers with care, respect and a smile. Their service has been so impactful to others that they have been recognized for it!

Jen, Dave and Chris are Essential Service Awards winners. Here is some of what their employers/customers have shared about them:

For almost 30 years, Jen has worked tirelessly with our staff and patients to ensure the best care possible. Jen approaches every situation knowing exactly how to help or what to say. For example, there was a family whose mother was not making a lot of progress. The family was upset. Once Jen walked in, the patient lit up and the family’s mood shifted.

Dave Janes, post office clerk, US Postal Service, 2016 winner

Dave makes going to the post office a delightful experience. He provides true customer service to each individual waiting in line, regardless of their attitude. I’ve seen Dave diffuse tense situations with angry customers through humor. He genuinely cares about his customers and attempts to connect with each one personally.

Chris will pick up shifts on the schedule even when she doesn’t want to, to ensure her team is always staffed. She is often helping others once she knows her assigned residents are well taken care of. Our follow-up satisfaction surveys always mention Chris by name as someone who went ‘above and beyond’ for them for their stay.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond in their service industry job? Nominate them for a 2018 Essential Service Award: westmiworks.org/esa.